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[quote=Anonymous]Not an expert.

Restricting screen time to TV is an easy way to control screen time without having to be too militant, FYI. My kid (age 4) will get 40 minutes if TV a few times a week. We do it this way instead of everyday because I think it’s really healthy to have whole days, or even multiple days, with no screens at all, because she just forgets about it as an option and plays and it doesn’t become habit. We do TV on one weekend day (it varies) and then keep it as an option on weekdays if she comes home very low energy and needs a very low key activity, we will let her watch TV while we make dinner.

She thinks of screen time as a treat that is appropriate for specific situations, like a lazy Saturday morning when we all want to relax. I don’t want her in the habit of watching TV on a schedule or expecting it after school or meals. She’s always been great at playing on her own and I don’t want that to stop.

For me, using devices is a slippery slope. We don’t do screens during travel except maybe watching a movie together in a very long flight. But no tablets in the car or when she’s bored at a restaurant or something. That’s why adults are addicted to their phones— we impulsively pull them out any time our brain isn’t being directly engaged. I don’t want to teach my kid that habit, especially so young. We just accept this means we have to engage with her more and deal with whining and “I’m boooored.” It’s fine— that’s parenting.

A little TV seems fine. Using screens in lots of ways to avoid boredom or coming up with an activity on your own seems really bad for a developing brain.[/quote]

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